A Podcast to Promote and Improve Your Practice as an Athletic Trainer

In a recent episode of the Sports Medicine Broadcast, host Chase Morales, along with Ross Little and second-year M.A. student Dorothy Bailey, sat down with Dr. Craig Garrison, Director of Research and Education at the Memorial Hermann Rockets Sports Medicine Institute. Dr. Garrison shared critical insights on identifying and correcting faulty throwing mechanics, understanding the biomechanical drivers of modern throwing velocity, and implementing practical strategies to protect overhead athletes across sports.

The Evolution of Velocity and Biomechanics

In today's sports landscape, throwing velocity serves as the baseline measuring stick for recruitment and advancement. High school baseball pitchers striving for Division I recruitment are now expected to consistently throw in the low-to-mid 90s—a notable contrast to a decade ago when lower velocity ranges were far more common.

This rise in velocity is heavily linked to advancements in biomechanical evaluation and motion analysis technology. By leveraging data-driven insights, clinicians and strength coaches can optimize kinetic sequencing, helping athletes generate explosive power while aiming to mitigate tissue stress.

Kinetic Principles Beyond Baseball

Although baseball pitching dominates discussions around overhead biomechanics, the core mechanical principles extend across multiple disciplines. Dr. Garrison highlighted that track and field throwers—specifically javelin athletes—exhibit nearly identical mechanical principles and injury risk profiles:

Force Generation: Throwers must produce substantial force through their drive limb and transition efficiently onto their stride limb.
Energy Transfer: Force generated from the ground must be transferred sequentially up the kinetic chain into the upper extremity.
High-Stress Breakdown: Flaws in timing or force transfer place extreme stress across the elbow joint, frequently leading to UCL tears, shoulder pathologies, and Tommy John surgeries in both baseball pitchers and javelin throwers.

Balancing Force Production and Kinematic Sequencing

To lower injury risk, clinicians must evaluate both force production and kinematic sequencing. An athlete who produces exceptional lower-body force but lacks proper sequencing will experience high stress on the upper extremity, drastically increasing injury risk.

Mechanical Factor	Primary Function	Clinical & Training Focus
Lower Extremity Power	Force generation from the ground	Squats, jumps, explosive lower-body force production
Kinematic Sequencing	Transferring force up the kinetic chain	Auditory cueing, rhythm drills, metronome synchronization
Workload & Load Management	Controlling cumulative joint fatigue	Tracking pitch counts, training volume, and day-to-day loads

Actionable Strategies for Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists

When designing rehabilitation protocols or performance programs for young overhead throwers, focus should remain on foundational movement rather than isolated arm exercises.

1. Build Power from the Legs

Forces delivered at ball release originate in the lower body. Training should prioritize lower extremity power, squat performance, and jumping mechanics. The upper extremity primarily serves as the vehicle for delivering the force generated by the legs and core.

2. Implement External Auditory Cueing

Because a baseball pitch is delivered in approximately 250 milliseconds, the human brain cannot consciously process complex internal mechanical adjustments mid-throw.

To overcome this, Dr. Garrison advocates for external cueing using simple tools like a metronome:

Match the metronome tempo to the athlete's desired pitching tempo.
Align the initial beat with stride-foot contact and the subsequent beat with the point of ball release.
Allow the athlete's central nervous system to self-organize and adjust rhythm naturally through auditory cues, eliminating conscious overthinking.

Managing Athlete Capacity and Gaining Buy-In

Addressing biomechanics effectively also requires managing realistic athlete capacities and behavioral compliance:

Understanding Movement Capacities: Neuromuscular coordination and movement capacity vary significantly. Clinicians and coaches must occasionally lead candid conversations with parents and young athletes regarding individual physical limits and ceiling potential.
Overcoming the Compliance Barrier: Healthy youth athletes often struggle to appreciate subtle mechanical adjustments. Buy-in generally increases following an injury or through proactive coaching and parental reinforcement.

Summary & Guest Information

Addressing throwing mechanics requires a comprehensive approach that prioritizes lower-body force generation, external timing cues, and careful workload management.

Guest: Dr. Craig Garrison (Director of Research and Education, Memorial Hermann Rockets Sports Medicine Institute)
Contact Email: Craig.Garrison@memorialhermann.org
Episode Link: sportsmedicinebroadcast.com/faultymechanics

YouTube Presentation: https://youtu.be/FGm5caSDJDg